pH can alter chemicals, usually by ionising them. For example, a change in pH may call a molecule in the protein to become protonated or deprotonated, depending on the change in Hydrogen ion concentration in the solution, and the acidity of the molecule itself. This change in chemical composition of the molecule can alter the structure, sometimes denaturing and preventing the proper functioning of the protein.
Because a lot of the bonds in proteins are sulfur bonds between the cysteine in each protein string. When you change the ph those bonds essentially dissolve. That's why when hairdressers apply a reducing agent to a women's hair all the curls drop out of it. Their hair goes completely limp because the sulfur bonds are broken. When the hair is permed those bonds are reestablished in to create the curls a women is paying money to get.
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pH can alter chemicals, usually by ionising them. For example, a change in pH may call a molecule in the protein to become protonated or deprotonated, depending on the change in Hydrogen ion concentration in the solution, and the acidity of the molecule itself. This change in chemical composition of the molecule can alter the structure, sometimes denaturing and preventing the proper functioning of the protein.
Because a lot of the bonds in proteins are sulfur bonds between the cysteine in each protein string. When you change the ph those bonds essentially dissolve. That's why when hairdressers apply a reducing agent to a women's hair all the curls drop out of it. Their hair goes completely limp because the sulfur bonds are broken. When the hair is permed those bonds are reestablished in to create the curls a women is paying money to get.
THE ACID ENVIRONMENT CAUSES THE THREE DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE OF PROTEINS TO CHANGE BY ADDING H+ TO THE ENVIRONMENT